Christians have a responsibility to judge and test all things

Christians Are Exhorted To Judge

Written by Mike Gendron on 29 July 2013.

SOURCE: Many Christians are unaware of their responsibility to judge and test all things. Paul exhorted: “I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:9-10). Christians need to take judgment seriously in this life because of the great responsibility that awaits us in the future. Paul reminds us: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters of this life?” (1 Cor. 6:2-3). Paul even commended the Bereans for rightfully judging his teaching. “They received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). The apostle John warned and exhorted Christians: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Clearly, all Christians are called to judge righteously by using the Word of God as the plumb line for discerning truth from error. After all, how can Christians contend earnestly for the faith unless they make judgments on what “the faith” is? Furthermore, how can Christians defend and proclaim the Gospel without discerning what “the Gospel” is?

How Are We To Judge?
John wrote: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Jesus said: “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (Mat. 7:15). The instruction Jesus gives for judging others is to make sure you are not guilty of the same error or sin! Paul echoed these words when he wrote: “Do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Rom. 2:3). When we judge, we must judge righteously and with pure hearts!

Unless we judge righteously, the church cannot be purged of error and sin and the name of Jesus Christ cannot be fully glorified and honored as the Holy Head of His Body, the Church. The critical issue in the Church today is the purity of the Gospel. That alone is the rudder that must guide the Church through stormy waters that have been stirred up by every wind of doctrine. Take away the ability to discern objective truth and churches turn into cafeterias serving whatever junk food people want instead of the disciplined diet they need for spiritual life and health. Without a steady diet of the whole counsel of God, churches become entertainment centers for goats instead of sanctuaries for the shepherd’s sheep (Mat. 25:32).